Jack's hoverbike cut through the cool morning air. Reina sat behind him. Her arms wrapped around his waist. Her long black hair flowing like a banner.
Mirebarrow Town soon appeared on the skyline. A cluster of sturdy stone and timber buildings.
The journey was without any problem this time. No drama. No last-minute ambushes. Just a straightforward arrival.
They landed the hoverbike discreetly somewhere outside the town. Near a polluted river. Jack engaged its stealth protocol. Storing it into his Mirror Space.
Then, the pair walked into town like any other travelers. Blending into the early morning bustle.
They might be welcomed with grand ceremony if they came to the city hall. But, they didn't want that. Choosing to blend with the common folks. Exploring the town.
Mirebarrow was quiet. It was smaller than Calmcoast. But more industrialized. More... polluted. But at least, the people there lived quite decently. Not miserable kinds of people living in slums.
Their first priority was finding a place for a proper rest. They asked around and found that the 'Lion's Mane Inn' was the premier lodging establishment there. Jack booked their most expensive suite.
It was spacious. Clean. And the bed looked like a cloud. After days of rough camping near the demon-infested cave, a soft mattress and hot water were not luxuries. But necessities.
"Great!" Jack exclaimed. Sprawling on the king-sized bed. "This is much better than a hard mattress on the patch of grass."
Reina, already inspecting the bathroom, hummed an agreement. "Yeah. Though I do enjoy our Mirror Space."
"As do I. But using it draws unwanted attention." Jack sat up. "These past few days were a good lesson. We needed to upgrade our outdoor equipment. Preferably, more than just basic comforts."
...
They spent the next two days indulging in simple, mundane pleasures. Prolonged, uninterrupted sleep. Delicious meals. And shopping. Jack had a particular agenda for their purchases.
First thing first... Their previous 'camping equipment' was rudimentary at best. A basic tent, few blankets, a small cooking pot... They were items prepared half-heartedly for their journey.
After all, before that, they could just vanish into Jack's Mirror Space dimension for true rest and privacy.
But there was this sudden necessity of appearing to be normal survivors among other transcendent individuals. It had highlighted a critical vulnerability.
Disappearing into thin air in front of witnesses was suspicious. They needed to maintain the illusion of being ordinary transcendent mercenaries. Even when deep in the wilderness. This meant... proper camping gear.
However, Jack didn't just buy 'proper' camping gear. He bought the best. Wealth was a fluid concept to him now. Easily acquired and just as easily spent.
His [Grootslang's Gemstone Detection] trait had already been an easy way for him to acquire wealth. Now, after it had evolved into [Treasure Detecting Radar], it was even easier.
After all, it was a passive ability that highlighted valuable things for him. Veins of ore. Forgotten stashes of gold. And even misplaced coin purses within a surprising radius.
Yeah. He was rich. He had no complaints about that.
In a hidden Transcendent Shop recommended by Sir Shellarrow, they acquired a set of state-of-the-art collapsible tent.
It was crafted with alchemy and runic inscription. Promising warmth in winter and coolness in summer. It was self-assembling with a flick of a button. And was designed to look like simple canvas when deployed.
Inside, it featured an inflatable mattress that mimicked a full bed. Complete with silky sheets and soft pillows.
In the same shop, they also purchased portable, self-heating cooking stoves. Compact water purifiers. And a set of folding chairs so comfortable that they could have been armchairs from an aristocrat's study.
Every item was expensive. But Jack didn't mind that. He knew he was buying luxury and comfort, masquerading as utility. Reina ran her fingers over the fine weave of a synthetic sleeping bag. A faint smile was on her lips.
"This will do." Jack stated. Approving the final selections. "No more sleeping on rocks, Love."
Reina nodded. A gentle warmth was in her eyes. "Whatever you deem necessary, Dear."
They spent two days for leisurely rest and more practical acquisitions. Clothing and food seasoning ingredients mostly... and an amazing find: a foldable full-body mirror.
It was just a mirror. A common item. Non magical, and foldable simply by using the principles of normal hinges. But it was extremely useful for Jack.
After that, they set out to continue their journey.
In a secluded place outside of the town, Jack took out the foldable mirror from his Spatial Bag. He used his [Mysterious Mirror World] to enter his Mirror Space and retrieved his hoverbike.
Now , he didn't need to worry trying to find reflective surface. He brought it with him. He might need to inscribe the foldable mirror with some rune later. Making sure it would not break into pieces too easily.
After repacking the mirror, the hoverbike hummed to life in the cool morning air.
Jack and Reina left Mirebarrow Town behind. Heading to the direction of the Lonestone Capital City.
The journey passed largely without incident. The landscape shifted. From rolling hills and sparse forests to more open plains.
They encountered wild animals. Territorial great hawks that swooped too close. Packs of oversized grassland wolves. And even a rogue dire bull that mistook their hoverbike for a rival.
Each confrontation was swift and decisive. Jack could simply dispatch such level of threats with a well-placed Steamrune Shotgun blast. Or a flurry of precise handgun shots.
Added with Reina's illusions to disorient the enemies. Or her fog to obscure their position. Or her mystic arts to bind and attack them... These wild beasts had no chance of winning.
The journey was quite long. A matter of several days. But it was uneventful in terms of serious threats. Just the monotonous hum of the engine and the changing horizon.
...
Finally, on a warm afternoon, the distinct silhouette of Lonestone Capital City emerged on the horizon. It was immense. A great port city at the size of Sapphire City. Or even bigger.
Sprawling docks were bristled with cranes and ships of every conceivable size. Belching smoke.
Tall, smoke-stained chimneys pierced the sky in the industrial districts. A stark contrast to the districts closer to the city's heart. Where gleaming spires and ornate facades of the Renaissance-style buildings were concentrated.
The air carried the scent of coal smoke. Sea salt. And something subtly sweet from the bakeries. It was a city alive. Throbbing with a thousand varied lives.
"Lonestone." Jack stated. A hint of satisfaction was in his voice. This was it. His new base. He had no intention of settling down permanently. Not with an entire world to explore, injustices to correct, and mysteries to unravel.
But a base was a strategic advantage. A fixed point to return to. A place that felt like home. And Lonestone Capital City was quite suitable for it.
The city was the place with the second highest concentration of transcendent individuals in Ourean Continent. Strange, mystical things were relatively common place here. His hoverbike, for example, would not be that strange here.
Furthermore, this city was an ideal place for his specter form to conduct his judgement act. It was a metropolis where the kindest and the most wicked gathered after all.
The city was indeed suitable for his base.
And with his [Nine-Anchor Portal Ring], he could always establish an anchor here. Guaranteeing instant return no matter where his adventures took him.
Their first stop in the sprawling metropolis wasn't a hotel. It was a real estate agency. Jack had a clear objective. Acquire a permanent residence here. He wanted a house. Not a temporary room.
They navigated the bustling streets. The Steamrune Hoverbike invited some glances. But Jack saw many more outrageous mounts and vessels on the streets. Flying carpet. Mechanical Ostrich. Floating Chair. Cyborg Horses. Steamrune Carriage...
Jack and Reina kept moving on their hoverbike. Until they found what they were looking for... the real-estate company, 'Lonestone Dream Home'. The agency was housed in a charming, older building. Its windows were displaying vintage photographs of various properties.
Inside, the air was cool and smelled of polished wood and old paper. A polite, impeccably dressed sales agent greeted them.
"Welcome to Lonestone Dream Home! How may I assist you today?" She asked. Jack observed her. A woman with tight curls and an overly enthusiastic smile
Jack put on his best 'respectable citizen' persona. "Good afternoon. My wife and I are looking to establish roots here in Lonestone. We're hoping to find a modest home. Something suitable for, well, starting a family."
He gestured vaguely at Reina, who offered a demure, almost shy smile. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her eyes were holding a gentle warmth.
The agent's smile widened. "A family home! How delightful! We have an excellent selection. May I see your credentials? And what sort of property are you envisioning?"
Jack produced forged documents. Carefully crafted to show him as a successful, self-made engineer from Sapphire City. Reina helped forging those documents. Her 'criminal past' as Queen Mirage made this an extremely easy one for her.
"Excellent!" The agent exclaimed after he checked the documents. "Are you looking for something traditional, modern, or perhaps unique?"
"Traditional or modern doesn't really matter." Reina said. Her voice was soft and melodious. Playing her part perfectly. "But we need something with a bit of privacy."
The agent led them through a bewildering array of physical brochures. Jack, ever pragmatic, filtered for size and location. He wanted something convenient. Not too big. But also private enough for his less-than-legal activities, if they became necessary.
Reina occasionally offered a suggestion. Always aligning with Jack's unspoken preferences.
They considered several properties... A modern townhouse in the Merchant's Quarter. It was nice, but too public. A grand villa near the university. It was too big...
Then, the agent pulled up a listing that caught Jack's eye.
"This one..." She said. Her voice was dropping slightly. "This one is rather unique. A small cottage, located at the very corner of the Garden District. It's been on the market for a while."
The image showed a quaint, two-story stone cottage. Partially obscured by what looked like an untended, overgrown orchard.
It was nestled against a high city wall. Almost hidden from the main thoroughfares. Perfect.
"Unique, you say?" Jack asked. Raising an eyebrow.
"Alas, yes. The previous owners, a lovely family, tragically perished during a visit to relatives in Highcliff Town last year. You've heard that, right? A terrible thing, that whole incident." The agent sighed dramatically.
"The sole inheritor, the younger sister, has since married into a prominent family in the Wavefront Kingdom and has no desire to return to Elrush. So, she's decided to sell."
Jack nodded. He remembered the Highcliff Town incident. He was there during that incident after all. The world was actually quite small.
"It looks… rustic." Reina observed. But a flicker of something in her eyes told Jack she liked the isolation.
"It is." The agent confirmed. "It requires quite a bit of cleaning and some minor repairs. But the location, for the right buyer, is simply unparalleled for privacy within the Garden District. It's also… quite expensive, given the land size, even with the necessary renovations."
Jack didn't hesitate. "We'll take it."
The agent blinked. Surprised by his immediate decision. "Sir? Are you certain? It's a significant investment, and the repairs alone will be…"
"I'm certain." Jack cut her off. His wealth was practically limitless. He had no need to haggle. "As for the cleaning and repairs, you have services for that, I presume?"
"Of course, sir! We work with several reputable contractors. We can oversee everything at a very reasonable additional fee." Her professionalism quickly returned. Overlaid with thinly veiled excitement. At the quick, high-value sale.
"Excellent. Have them start immediately. We'll be ready to move in as soon as it's habitable." Jack pulled out a pouch of heavy gold coins. He preferred hard currency for these transactions.
The agent, after some rapid calculations, confirmed the process. "With the necessary work, we estimate it will be ready for occupancy in approximately three days. We'll contact you at your hotel for updates."
"Perfect." Jack said. He offered Reina a reassuring glance. Playing his part as a loving husband. "Three days, Love. Then, we'll have a proper home."
Reina smiled back. Her eyes were sparkling. "Yes, Dear. A home at last."